Friday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Intention: For a spirit of conversion within all people, that we will open our hearts to the ways of God and the needs of his people, especially those who suffer the injuries of the world’s injustice.
Today’s Gospel | Luke 9:18-22
Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
From the Fifteenth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Another reward in this life that those who work for the salvation of souls receive is their consolation in seeing God served well by those whom they have instructed and in realizing that their work has not been useless but has served to save those whom they were called upon to instruct.
In this spirit Saint Paul writes to the Corinthians, to whom he preached the Gospel, that he has begotten them in Jesus Christ and that they are his work in our Lord. Similarly, he finds joy to learn of their goodwill. This is what makes him boast about them, because many people have been stirred by their zeal. He adds his hope that the increase of their faith will attain so much glory that it will extend farther and farther to win souls through the proclamation of the Gospel. Yet, it is in our Lord that he boasts. It is only in Jesus Christ, he says, that I lay hold to some glory for what I have done for God.
Prayer
Eternal Father, you always are with us, even when we do not recognize you in our midst. You are present to us through the best and the worst experiences of our lives. You speak to us the words that we long to hear as well as the ones that we need to hear. Lord, open our hearts so that we do not miss your voice as it speaks to us throughout this day, calling us to peace, justice, wisdom, and faith, and showing us the way to live. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.